Page 64 - 08-Nov-Dec-2024

MOLLY WHALEN- BROWNE
FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR, NEW CANADIANS HEALTH CENTRE; ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
AGE 34
The opening months of Edmonton’s only refugee health
clinic were hectic for Dr. Molly
Whalen-Browne.
It was less than two years into
COVID-19, the staff at the New Canadians Health Centre (NCHC) was still figuring out its workflow, and Canada was expecting 40,000 additional refugees from Afghanistan.
One day, 300 refugees arrived in Edmonton and were suddenly under her clinic’s care. There were similar waves of this — most came without much warning, and many people came with complex needs. Many didn’t know how to navigate the health-care system.
Whalen-Browne learned early
on in her career that not everyone in Canada gets the same access to health care, even within the same city, which is why she works to fill in the gaps.
“We are so privileged to have what I consider to be a fairly robust health-care system in Canada,” Whalen-Browne says. “We need to work so that everybody is able to access that.”
As a founder of the NCHC and a physician, Whalen-Browne helps newcomers navigate the health- care system as they settle into their new homes.
“I think the best part, honestly, is these patients are amazing. They’re incredible. I learn so much from them that it makes every day really interesting and really enjoyable.”
— LIAM NEWBIGGING
64 EDify. NOVEMBER•DECEMBER.24
ASHTON RUDANEC
DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABLE INVESTING, TOTAL FUND INVESTMENT STRATEGY, AIMCO & PRESIDENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
AGE 35
that had been a significant part of her own journey.
As president of the University of Alberta Alumni Association, Rudanec’s own journey speaks volumes about the power of the alumni network. She says she landed her current role at AIMCo through a chance meeting with an alumna, Alison Schneider. That encounter, which happened at an International Women’s Day event, opened doors to a career she hadn’t initially consid- ered. “It changed the trajectory of my whole life, leading me into a field I never thought I’d be in.”
Rudanec’s passion for connecting with alumni is evident in her efforts to meet graduates across different cities. “I’ve met alumni in New York, Singapore and Hong Kong, and they’ve all been willing to connect,” she notes. Her experiences under- line her belief in the lifelong value of alumni networks. “You’re in university for a short time, but you’ll be an alum forever.”
Her leadership also reflects her dedication to inclusivity and sustainability. Rudanec has advocated for policies that allow board members to balance personal commitments, such as parenting, while actively participat- ing in the organization. “I’m proud that the changes I’ve advocated for enable talented individuals to contribute their time and skills,” she says.
For Rudanec, these small, meaningful connections are the foundation of a strong, thriving alumni community, including the Top 40 community of which she’s now a part. “The small contributions that we make in aggregate can make a pretty big difference.” — HIBA ZAIDI
After graduating from the University of Alberta, Ashton Rudanec found herself drawn to her alma mater, eager to give back to the community
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